San Francisco is so Expensive that even making $82,000 can Qualify as Low-Income

Apparently, even professionals in the San Francisco metro area can qualify as low-income due to the expensiveness of the area. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) annually assesses income limits for how much a person can make per year and still qualify for certain types of federal housing assistance. HUD’s fiscal 2018 figures have income category limits for a single person living in the San Francisco metro area at $82,200. The limit is $117,400 for a family of four living in the San Francisco metro area. It is surprising that a family of four with a six figure income can be considered low-income.

It’s important to note that very few people who are classified as “low-income” under HUD’s standards actually receive rental assistance. In fact, subsidies are reserved for people who are making less than 50 percent of the median income in a given geographic area. The limits to be considered for “very low” income subsidies in the San Francisco metro area are $51,350 for a single person and $73,300 for a family of four. The “extremely low” income limits are $30,800 for a single person and $44,000 for a family of four living in the San Francisco metro area. It’s good to know that actual government assistance in the Bay Area is reserved for the lowest-income earners, but it’s shocking to learn what is considered low-income in certain areas.